Toulon girl delivers more coats to charity as part of 14th birthday

Friday

Dec 27, 2013 at 10:19 PM

Gary L. Smithof the Journal Star

TOULON — Brooke Rennick, the teenage founder of an ever-expanding charity project that has drawn international attention in efforts to provide coats for needy children — celebrated her 14th birthday Friday by giving more coats to more kids.

Joined by her parents and a friend, the Toulon Junior High School eighth-grader, who started Koats for Kids, delivered 145 more coats and other cold weather apparel to the Salvation Army's Estate and Charitable Gift Planning Center in Peoria.

"I believe with today's drop-off that she will have collected and donated about 900 coats and other items the past two years alone," said Rich Draeger, the organization's assistant development director.

Brooke's project began about four years ago with clearing out her family household's closets of unused coats, hats, boots, and mittens that could benefit children in her own area. It has expanded to include not only numerous collection points for donated items but also an online fundraising auction of designer apparel donated by a Hong Kong attorney who read about her efforts online.

"Brooke is a great young lady and always seems to be of a mindset to help others," Draeger said. "What may have started as a house-cleaning project has certainly grown into a wonderful endeavor."

Of 14 designer coats that had been donated by attorney Kristi Swartz, a Texas native who is managing partner of the Hong Kong office of a global law firm, nine were sold on eBay last week for bids totaling nearly $900. Five others remain up for bid through at least 2 p.m. Saturday, and that may be extended for another week, said Brooke's father, attorney Robert Rennick Jr., who is handling the financial transactions.

"If we don't sell them on eBay, we'll try to sell them on the Facebook page or something," he said.

Meanwhile, two more shipments from Swartz have arrived in recent days, including more coats, other clothing, and also designer purses, Rennick said. The plan is to sell those items on eBay as well, and use the proceeds to buy still more coats at discount or second-hand stores to donate to the Salvation Army.

"There will be more auctions soon that include some very amazing handbags," noted a Friday posting on the Facebook page maintained by Brooke's parents. Her mother, Leslie Rennick, is a teacher at Stark County Elementary School in Wyoming.

Draeger pointed out that efforts of this type can have inspirational impact far beyond the direct benefits to people served by the Salvation Army.

"Not only is she helping youngsters who might be without (coats)," he said. "I hope she is motivating and inspiring other young people to get involved in whatever way they can."

More information on the online auction of designer coats donated for a charity program can be obtained on the Facebook page for "Koats for Kids Toulon."

Coats and other winter apparel also can be dropped off at various sites listed on Facebook, including the law office of Robert Rennick Jr., 117-119 W. Court St., PO Box 430, Toulon IL 61483. Donations also can be mailed to Koats for Kids at that address.

Gary L. Smith can be reached at (800) 516-0389 or glsmith@mtco.com. Read his Northern Circuit blog at pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Glsmithx.

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